The Taynuilt Sheela Na Gig

Photograph Copyright Marc Calhoun used with permission

The following information and
photographs were kindly supplied by Marc Calhoun.

"This figure is
located
10 feet above the ground on the west end of the south wall of Muckairn
Church
in the village of Taynuilt (NN 005 310). The figure is roughly 2 feet
high, and
1 foot across. The arms are missing, the eyes are closed, and its mouth
appears
to be open. The stumpy legs make it appear to be squatting, and there
is a hole
at the base that may mean it is an anus shower.

Referred to as
a
Sheela in The Sheela-Na-Gigs of Ireland
& Britain (item 45 in the Scotland
section of the catalogue),
where the figure is described as a ‘plump and undemonstrative goddess
figure.’

Referred to as a
Sheela in Argyll
and the Islands; An
Illustrated Architectural Guide, (item 115). This source dates
it to 13th
century and says it was removed from the late medieval church of Killespickerill
which once stood on the site."

Marc
Calhoun

This figure though damaged and
worn does have some evidence to indicate that it was originally an
exhibitionist of some sort. A hole presumably indicating the anus is
very much in evidence and there is some damage around the groin area.
The figure has the remains of two fairly thick legs and is quite
rotund. The face is still evident and the head appears to be round and
hairless. It is hard to say whether or not this was once a sheela na
gig or a male exhibitionist but its reasonable to assume that it was an
anus shower of some type. If we surmise that this figure is a survival
from the earliest church "Killespickerill" dating from around 1228 then it would put the figure
just outside the correct period for a sheela na gig yet not so far
outside to make it impossible.

John Harding

The figure in its current positionPhotograph Copyright Marc Calhoun used with permission

Muckarin Parish church. The figure is visible on the left hand side of
the church. The current church dates from the 1800s but is built on
side of a 13th century church Killespickerill the seat of the Bishop of
Argyll. Photograph Copyright Marc Calhoun used with permission